Angeline reveals her confidant in matters of the heart

Angeline Quinto

The more time she spends at home during quarantine, the more Angeline Quinto is reminded about her humble beginnings in Sampaloc, Manila, and the work she put in to achieve the things she used to only dream of.

“My goal back then was simple: I just wanted to have a regular job, so I could help Mama Bob (her adoptive mom) and provide for her when she’s no longer able to work. I didn’t really see myself singing on television … I was OK entering contests; I would have been content with hotel gigs,” she said in a video conference, when asked by the Inquirer about her quarantine musings.

“So, every time I see what I have now, I find myself wondering, ‘How did I get started? How was I able to have this house built?’ I remember the first time I spent the night here in my dream house. It all comes back to me. And it still feels like a dream,” added the singer, whose career took off when she won the talent search “Star Power” in 2011.

The singer admitted that there was a time when she got too fascinated with material goods—luxury bags, shoes, clothes. But the COVID-19 pandemic had her reassessing what she values most and what truly makes her happy.

“Naging maluho din ako, aaminin ko po. And when the lockdown began a couple of months ago, I realized that I couldn’t use any of them. I realized that these expensive things aren’t important; they will not make me genuinely happy,” the 30-year-old recording artist said.

“I have been in showbiz for quite some time now and I think I ended up adopting how other people [live their lives]. I’m really a simple girl and now I’m going back to how I started.”

What’s priceless, she said, is spending quality time with her family and loved ones. That’s why she’s taking this chance to do all the bonding activities she and Mama Bob missed out on because of work.

“Before the lockdown, I would usually go to work while she’s still sleeping. And when I return home, she’s already asleep. Now I sleep beside her every day. I have been doing all the chores. We chat more often. And even if she tells me the same stories over and over, I pretend that I’m hearing them for the first time,” she related.

With no live shows and the nonrenewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, Angeline, like many other celebrities, has pivoted toward the digital space.

Quinto

Her YouTube vlog, which she started two years ago, has almost 440,000 subscribers and more than 22 million views so far. She has also partnered with KreativDen for an online talk show titled “Padalove,” which she conceptualized while in quarantine.

The show, which is likewise available on YouTube, has Angeline inviting letter senders or “Padalovers” seeking tips about their love-related dilemmas. Each episode features a celebrity guest or “Advicheer” who offers another take and perspective about the issue.

Joining Angeline for the second season of “Padalove” (new episode every Wednesday at 5 p.m.) are Maja Salvador, Kim Chiu, Empress Schuck, Kalad Karen and Jessy Mendiola.

“I have noticed that some of my friends would come to me for advice when they’re heartbroken. And I find myself relating my personal experiences with them. So I thought, ‘Why not do an online show with this concept?’” she related. “And since I’m not doing anything right now, I figured that it would be nice to do something that will allow my fans to see me, even if there are no shows at the moment.”

But to whom does Angeline run to when she’s the one in need of love advice? Vice Ganda is one of them.

“I’m usually wary about opening up about my love life. But when it’s too much to bear, I go to him. One time, when I was still living in a condo unit near ABS-CBN, I was crying and was going through a lot. For some reason, Ate Vice was the first person to come to mind. He was there after a few hours and he just listened to me,” she related.

Aside from her online projects, Angeline has also opened her new chicken delivery business called AQ Wings of Love. “Cooking is one of my hobbies. And when I’m at home, I cook breakfast, lunch and dinner,” she said, adding that the lockdown allowed her to pursue other interests.

Angeline feels happy and relieved to have started the said ventures, which she expects to keep her busy while the entertainment industry is in a drought.

“I’m sad that there’s no ABS-CBN now. I’m not used to not working. In my nine years with the network, I believe this is the longest I have stayed at home. But I’m thankful that there are people who are ready to help me and mentor me as I put my business and online show,” she said.